Another Transfer - April 28, 2009

Dear Family and my dear friends,

So another transfer is completed and I'll tell you the results in a second but first business. Elder Chagoya wanted me to send some things for you at home to look at. To all the brothers he was wondering if you had seen any of the Beetles movies (i.e. Help, A Hard Days Night). Knowing Matt and Dustin I told him that they probably have but he just wanted to know. Also I have one for Paige: look up The Awareness Test on youtube. You may have already seen it but I want you to check it out and see what you think of it. Elder Chagoya told me it was pretty cool. Also he keeps telling me about a show called Burn Notice. I'm not sure what it is but let me know if it is as truly noteworthy as he says it is.

This Sunday we baptized John. John is a great guy, 19 years old, and loves the gospel. It was a great baptism service and his parents and his brother came. They have a strange situation in there family where they all live in different places in Rajahmundry so having them all together was really cool.

I also had something really cool happen this past week. I was on exchange in my area and we were making some visits to our investigators. As we were walking we found Anil Kumar, an older man who I had met a month ago with Elder Chagoya. When we first met him he was a wreck, he told us that he couldn't stop drinking alcohol and it was wasting his life away. His wife was crying and his eyes were bloodshot. He didn't have the best English but we tried to console him and when he calmed down we shared with him the word of wisdom and how with God's help we can overcome all addictions and restore our bodies and spirits. We got a return appointment but it fell through and ever since we haven't been able to get in contact with him until this last week. We talked with him and he told us that ever since we came to his house and prayed with him he has only taken one drink. He told us he was much happier and he saved a lot of money since. I was absolutely in shock. We got in his home and shared the restoration of the gospel with him. He loved it and just yesterday we shared it with his whole family. We met his daughters who had come from Karnataka (for study purposes) and I guess they were shocked to hear that their father stopped drinking because they hung on to our every word. The spirit was so strong in that lesson. Unfortunately the daughters are going back to Karnataka next week and I'm not sure if a branch is nearby to them but we will definitely work with Anil and we even gave him a soft commitment to be baptized.

That was definitely the highlight of my week but that is not the end of news. We got our transfer calls on Sunday night and Elder Chagoya is going to Karnataka to a small village called KGF or Kola Gold Fields. It's a really small village but the work is really strong there. We just heard the other day that between two companionships they are getting 20 investigators to church every week. Elder Chagoya is going to have a lot of success but he won't be too comfortable. From what we hear there are no grocery stores or big shops there. You're lucky if you can even find bread. Not to mention that the local food is terrible. He's really nervous about the food situation but at the same time he is really excited to have even more success.

As for me I'm going to stay here a little longer and train a new elder fresh out of the MTC. I'm really excited for it. Ever since I started my mission I wanted to be a trainer, probably because I love my trainer so much. I don't know his name but he's coming in tomorrow morning. Elder Chagoya and I are thinking of playing a little prank on him but we're not sure exactly what we want to do. We could get a member to pretend to be angry with us, we could get him to eat something really nasty, or anything. The best prank I heard someone do is two elders bought an idol and set it up in their room. When they brought the new elder home one looked at his watch and say "quick elder. It's 2:00!". Then they ran to the idol and started bowing to it. They told the other elder to bow to it also and said it was the law and the other elder starting bowing to it. Then the other two elders stepped back and took a picture of it and said "Oh elder you're in trouble. We're going to send this picture to President Nichols and tell him you're worshipping idols". It sounds funny but I don't think I could get my make my new companion break the second commandment.

Anyways I am really excited for this next week but it's going to be hectic. Trying to transfer American elders is a pain because we have to de-register and register for each area. It takes so much time because we have to take an hour bus ride to the government office and then we usually have to wait 2 hours until the S.P. arrives and he can sign our papers. It's a pain but it's necessary.

I love you all so much and I keep you in my prayers everyday. I hate that I'm missing all the little kids grow up. I'm starting to realize how foreign the world is going to be when I do come home, luckily I got three brothers and a dad who served missions who can help me recoop.

Love you all a million greenies!

Elder Curtis Mackay

Oh my goodness you are one happy family. Carly I'm so proud of you. Keep it up! And yes Ashley I did laugh hysterically at you but I'm glad you and Dustin are still together. And Paige I am so happy for you also. You're going to have an amazing senior prom. Tell Jake he has my condolensces. Matt I'm so sorry for missing your birthday. I lost track of time but I hope you like my letter. I made some pictures for the chilluns. I love you all so much and I can't wait to call home sooooo soon.

Love ya!